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Kawasaki Disease

Also called: Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome

Kawasaki disease is a rare childhood disease. It makes the walls of the blood vessels in the body become inflamed. It can affect any type of blood vessel, including the arteries, veins, and capillaries.

No one knows what causes Kawasaki disease. Symptoms include

  • High fever that lasts longer than 5 days
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
  • A rash on the mid-section and genital area
  • Red, dry, cracked lips and a red, swollen tongue
  • Red, swollen palms of the hands and soles of the feet
  • Redness of the eyes

Kawasaki disease can't be passed from one child to another. There is no single test. To diagnose it, doctors look at the signs and symptoms. They may also use an echocardiogram or other tests. It is mainly treated with medicines. Rarely, medical procedures and surgery also may be used for children whose coronary arteries are affected.

Kawasaki disease can't be prevented. However, most children who develop the disease fully recover - usually within weeks of getting signs and symptoms. Further problems are rare.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Symptoms of Kawasaki Disease

The following features are indicative of Kawasaki Disease:
  • high fever
  • conjunctivitis
  • rash
  • red or swollen tongue
  • red, dry or cracked lips
  • irritation
  • swollen lymph nodes
  • swollen or red skin on palms or soles of feet
  • joint pain
  • diarrhea
  • vomiting
  • abdominal pain
  • skin peeling

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Common Causes of Kawasaki Disease

The following are the most common causes of Kawasaki Disease:
  • genetic factors

Risk Factors for Kawasaki Disease

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Kawasaki Disease:
  • children under 5 years old
  • being a boy
  • children of Asian or Pacific Island descent, such as Korean or Japanese

Prevention of Kawasaki Disease

No, it is not possible to prevent Kawasaki Disease.
  • genetic factors

Occurrence of Kawasaki Disease

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Kawasaki Disease cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Extremely rare less than 1000 cases

Common Age Group

Kawasaki Disease most commonly occurs in the following age group:
  • Less than 5 years old

Common Gender

Kawasaki Disease can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Kawasaki Disease

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Kawasaki Disease:
  • Urine tests: To test pus or protein in the urine
  • Blood tests: To test white blood cells count and to check the presence of anemia
  • Electrocardiogram: To check ventricular functions
  • Echocardiogram: To identify coronary artery abnormalities
  • Liver function test: To test hepatic inflammation

Doctor for Diagnosis of Kawasaki Disease

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Kawasaki Disease:
  • Paediatric cardiologist
  • Paediatric rheumatologist
  • Paediatric infectious disease specialist

Complications of Kawasaki Disease if untreated

Yes, Kawasaki Disease causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Kawasaki Disease is left untreated:
  • vasculitis
  • myocarditis
  • heart valve problems
  • aneurysm
  • internal bleeding
  • can be fatal

Patient Support for Treatment of Kawasaki Disease

The following actions may help Kawasaki Disease patients:
  • Parents support: Helps child to bring back to normal condition

Time for Treatment of Kawasaki Disease

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Kawasaki Disease to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • In 1 - 4 weeks

Related Topics

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Kawasaki Disease.

Related Topics

Vasculitis

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